Volunteers help residents after Durham fire

More than twenty households were evacuated to the village hall in Frosterley in the middle of the night, with a 200 yard cordon set up around the garage.

The Red Cross volunteers provided first aid and emotional support at a rest centre, working with members of the statutory services, as part of a multi-agency team.

Help for distressed residents

They arrived at the Frosterley village hall rest centre at 6am with a specially-equipped fire and emergency support service vehicle. These vehicles are equipped with items that people might need after a house fire such as toiletries, tea and coffee and spare clothing. The volunteers are also equipped and trained to deal with any first aid situation that may arise.

Operations director Judi Evans said: “As you can imagine being asked to leave your home in the middle of the night is a very distressing experience.

"Our role is to work alongside other partner organisations to provide not just first aid, but to offer emotional support and someone to talk to until residents are safely back in their homes.”